Lead pencil



March 1 1927.

c. o. GRONBERG LEAD PENCIL Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITEDy ear ENT oFFlCE.

CLARENCE o. GRCNBERG, or ELGIN, ILLINOIS, Ass'GNoR` 0F- oNn-THI'RDTO'ALBERT M. PRI-CE, oF ELGIN, 1LLI'NoIs.

LEAD PENCIL.

Application filed March 13, 1922,. Serial No. 543,381.

a novel, simple and inexpensive constructionof magazine; to provide in apencil of the' type referred to mechanism for forcing the leads insuccession from the magazine into the outlet portion ofthe pencil toposition the leadsV for writing; to provide a construction whereby theleads may be readily positioned in the magazine; and, generally, toimprove upon pencils of the type above referred to.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, a portion thereof being sectioned,ofthe body or shell portion of the pencil. Figure 2 is a view inelevation' of the other' parts of the pencil and with which the bodyportion of Figure 1 is assembled in use. Figure 3 is a longitudinalsectional view vtaken through the pencil, with portions thereof brokenaway; and Figures 4, 5, 6V and 7, sections taken at the lines 4, 5, 6and 7, respectively, on Fig. 3, and viewed in the directions ofthearrows.

The body or shell portion of the pencil, shown as in the form of ahollow cylinder open at its opposite ends, is represented at 8, themagazine for spare leads and the leadfeeding means being'locatedtherein. In the particular construction shown'the parts of thelead-pencil, other than the shellI 8, are provided as a unitarystructure, the tip portion of the pencil being shown' at9and containinga bore 1() extending lengthwisetherethru, this bore being shown asdisposed eccentric-ally of the axis ofthe pencil andr in which the lead,represented at 11, is located, when positioned for use, the outer endportion of the tip portion 9 being shown as tapered toward its outerextremity concentric with the bore 10. The tip portion 9 contains asecond bore 12 shown as diametrically opposite form to the bore A andthru which the leads are insert-ed into the' magazine', hereinafterdescribed, in the charging'of the latter with leads. Thetip portion 9 isprovided with a rod 13 secured at'A its lower e'nd in the tip portion 9inany desirablew'ay, as for example by tightly screwing it therein, asshown, the rod' 13 beingconcentric with the axis of the pencil andprojecting at its upper end beyond the portion 9, the upper end of thisrod being connected with a circular block 14 containing in its peripherya groove 15 in alignment with the bore 10. The block 14 isrigidlysecured to the rod 13 to be non-rotatable thereon, and located betweenthis block and the adjacent` end of the tip portion 9 is a cylindricalmagazineforming member 16-which surrounds the rod 13`and is rotatablethereon, the'periphery of the member 16 containing parallel groovesextending lengthwise thereof, and represented at 17, for receivingspa-re leads. An uneven number of the grooves 17 are provided, themember asshown being formed with nine of these grooves, the idea beingthat when one of the grooves 17 is in line with the bore 10, none ofthese grooves will be in line with the bore 12, whereby in the positionoccupied by the magazine when the pencil is-in use no opportunity ispresented for the sliding of the leads from the grooves 17 thru the bore12` Theblock 14 Yis connect'edwith the lower end of a rod 18, the pupper endof which is connected with a collar 19 in which a member 20. atits reduced lower'end 21, is journaled. The member 20 has rigidlyconnected therewith the upperer endof a threaded member 20a, the lowerend of which rotatably bears against theupper soclreted end of the rod13, and surrounding the threaded rod 2Oa and having threaded engagementtherewith at a threaded opening 22 isl a member 23 which contains agroove 24 in one edge thereof into which the rod 18 extends, the member23 being slidable on this rod. The member 23'at the end thereof oppositethat containing the groove 24 is connected with the upper end of aleadfeeding rod 25 which is arranged in line with the slot 15 in theblock 14 and in which it is lengthwise movable, to force the leadlocated in the particular one of the grooves 17 in alignment withthegroove 15, thru the bore 10 and into a' position in which it may be usedfor writing. The rod 25 is operated, for the purpose stated, by the?operator rotating the member 2O in clockwise direction in' Fig. 4,therotation of thethrea'ded rod 2Oa in engagement with the'th'readedopeningV in' the" member 23, and the'latter, being heldagainstrotation,-serving to `force the member 23 toward the block 14;

The block 14 contains in its` periphery a longitudinal groove 26 .inwhich a paivl 27 is located and lengthwise movable, this groove being ofdove-tail form in cross-section and the pawl being of similarcross-sec-l tion to prevent accidental displacement ot the latter. Thepaivl 27 -which is shown as formed at one side with an abrupt shouldersurface, is normally yieldingly pressed toward thetip of the pencil, asby a spring represented at 28, one end of this spring being vrigidlyconnected at 28 with the block 14 and at its oppositeend, represented at30, yieldingly pressing against the upper end of the pawl 27.

In assembling the structure shown in Fig. 2, Within the shell 8, it isintroduced at its portion 20, the cap 29 being removed, into one endofthe shell and moved lengthwise therein to a position in which theseotion) at its end abuts the shell, as shown in Fig. 3, in whichposition the part 20 extends beyond the opposite end of the shell andhas pi `eferably applied thereto the cap 29 which lits the member 2Osui'iiciently tightly to permit the latter to be turned thru the mediumof this cap 29. Y

The structure located Within the shell, preferably at some portionthereof .which will not interfere with the sliding ofthe member 23 intothe shell 8lits the shell suffieiently tightly to hold the rod 18against movement in the rotation of the member 20, in order that thelead may be fed thru the bore 10 as desired. The relatively tight litreferred to is preferably between the rotatable magaaine member 1G andthe inner surface of the shell 8.

It will be noted that the paivl 27 is so positioned that When thelead-Ii'eeding rod is in line with one of the lead-receiving grooves 17,this pavvl will extend into one of the other of these grooves 17.

The grooves 17 of the magazine are charged with leads, preferablythrough the bore 12, and to accomplish this the operator rotates themember 20 to Aposition in which the rod 25 is retracted from 'then'iagaaine 16, thereby permitting the magazine member 16 to be freelyrotated in clocliivise direction in Fig. (i relative to the rod 25 byturning the shell 8 or rotating the member in anticloclrivise direction,relative to the suell tj While holding theV latter against rotation formoving the ends of the grooves 17 into registration successively v. 'ththe bore 12.

The magazine being charged, the operator then rotates ,the member 2O inclockwise direction in Fig. Ll; which causes the rod 25 to feed the lead11 through the bore 10 `by Vengaging with the upper end of the lead.

'When it is desired to move one of the spare leads in the n'iagazineinto a position in vwhich it may be forced through the bore 10 forWriting, the operator rotates Athe member 2O in anti-clockwise directionin Fig. Il to a position in which the rod 25 is entirely withdrawn fromthe groove 17 `in which it was operating in Which position the nutmember 23engagesthe underside of the reduced `portion 21 of the member20, the operator continuing to rotate the member 20 With one hand Whilegrasping the shell 8 with his other hand with the result of rotating allthe parts shown in Fig. 2 except the magazine member 1G which is heldagainst rotation by frictional engagement ivith the inner surface of theshell 8 as hereinbefore described. Thus, the rotation of the member 2Othroughout substantially one-ninth of a complete revolution in theparticular construction illustrated, shifts the rod 25 bodily about theaxis of the pencil to a position in Which it aligns with the groove 17next to the one in which it operated in the leadfeeding operation asabove stated, the paivl 27 in the movement ofthe parts as'stated ridingover the end of the rib between these tivo grooves and springing intothe next one beyond, which not only apprises the operator that the nextspare lead is .in position to be operated on by the feed-rod 25, butalpositively prevents the rotation of the bloc-lr lll relativefto themagazine member 1G in the initial stages of the lead-feedingroperationmit being noted that the paivl 27 as shown is so constructedthat it forms an abutment eo-operating with the Wall of the groove intoWhich it extends, to prevent the block. 14 from rotating in clockwisedirection in Fig. 5. It will be noted that inasmuch the. rod 25 entersthe grooves 17 in tue magazine thelatter is prevented from rotating ineither direction and thus danger of accidental turning of the-tipportici; S) and the magazine relative to each other and the breaking ofthe lead thereby is avoided. It ivill be noted that in the particularcon- :litcllictionShown, the shell 8 forms the main y'oA .ie pencil, andthe parts for-mme the interior mechanism may be assembled there\vith,and di sassembled therefrom, Without disconnecting such parts theseparts in effect being formed as a unitary struct-ure insertable andWithdrawahle from the shell. llns lis not only of advantage inconnection vsuth the manufacture of the pencil, permitting the parts tobe quickly-and easilv assembled, but is also of advantage .iu tliat itpermits of ready access to the interior of the pencil for inspection orrepair, and the ready reassembly of the shell member with the unitaryinterior mechanism.

Furthermore, the shell 8 serves `as a cover for the open-sidedlead-receiving grooves of the magazine 16, and as the shell S andmagazine 16 are relatively movable length- Wise of the pencil, theoperator merely by shifting these parts relative to each other CII CII

lengthwise ot the pe-ncilmay have ready ac.- cess to the magazine, asfor. example. toinspect the leads to determine which, it any, ot" thegrooves inv the. magazine still contain leads and-to aidin quickly.positioning those grooves in which leads remain, inalignment Withthepassage in the tip, the feature just referred to also permitting. oftheready removal of broken'or defective leads from the magazine, as Well asaiding inthe placing of leads in the magazine.

lVhile I have illustrated and` described a particular constructionembodying my invention, Ir do not wish to'be understood as intending' tolimit it thereto, as the same may be variously modiedand alteredWithoutdeparting from the'spirit ot my invention.

that I' claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l A` lead-pencil comprisingA leadtorcing means having a rod portionextending lengthwise ot the axis of the penciland eccentricallyvthereto, means whereby the leads are disposed in avcircular series inthe pencil, said lead-forcing means being. Aadapted at said rodportionto successively. engage the leads and iee'd theminto position foruse, and means vwhereby alignment: ot. said leads in successionwvithsaid. lead-forcing means may be effected, said rod portion otsaidlead-forcing means inits movement-fin feed# ing ay lead-moving toaposition beyondsaid last-named means.v

2. A' lead pencilcomprising a lead-magazine. an d. lead-forcing meansfor: successively engaging thel leads inthe magazine and feedingthemtherethrough intoposition for use comprising alead-'e-ngagingelement and rotary. means for actuatingsaid element operating, whenrotated4 in one-direction, to' actuate saidelement to feed a leadandWhen reverselyrotated to retract said element from the magazineandoperating, whenrotation thereof is continued after moving saidelement to. retracted position, to effectrelative bodily rotation ofsaid leadeforcing means and said magazine. f

3Q A lead pencil comprising amember containinga passage in which theleadwvhen in positiontor use extends, a second-member (lead-magazine)containinga series ot passages extending lengthwise thereof, and leadforcing means 'for successively engaging` the leads in. the magazine andfeeding them therethrough and into the passage in saidfirst-named'member, said means comprising a lead-.engagingelement and.rotary means tor actuating said element operating,.\vhen rotated in onevdirection, to actuate said:ele ment to 'eedthe lead andWhen. reversely:rotated toV retract said. element from. the magazine. and operating,When rotation thereof. is. continuedat'ter moving. saidV element toretracted position, to effect relative bodily rotation of said'lirst-named means andY Said. first-named member jointly and saidsecondmember.

4. A- lead penoil'comprisinga member; containing a passage in whichthelead when in position for use extends, a second-.member(lead-magazine) containing aseries of'pas` sages extending lengthwise`thereof, and leadforcing means for successively engaging the leads inthe magazine and feeding' them therethrough and intothe passage in saidirst-named member, said means operating. when rotated in one directionto `feed the lead andt When reversely rotated to retract said elementand operating.. When rotation thereof is continued after m'ovingfsaidelement to retracted position, to eiiect relative bodilyrotation of saidfirst-named member and saidfirst-named means jointly and said secondmember, and means preventing relative rotation of said first-namedmember and said-lirst-named means jointly and saidsecond member duringthe operation of said rotary meansr for feeding a lead.

5. Alead pencil comprising a shell composing. the body of the pencihalead-magazine extendinginto said'shell, andflead-forcing means forsuccessively engaging the leads in the magazine and feeding themtherethrough into position tor use, said magazine being heldin saidshell against rotation therein and said lead-feeding' means being`rotatableV relative to said magazine for alining' the leads in thelatter in succession with said-lead-forcing means.

6. A lead pencil comprising a shell and tip portion at one end of1 saidshell, a leadmagazine. extending' into said shell and said tip portionbeing rotatable relative to said shell and. to said magazine and saidmagazine beingheld in said shell'against rotation, and lead-forcingmeans extending into the other end ot said shell tor successively`engaging the leads in the magazine and feeding them therethrough andythrough said tip portion, said leadforcing means being connected withsaid tip portion toprevent relative bodily rotation thereof.

7. A. lead pencil comprising a shell composingY the body ot the pencil,a lead-magazine extending into said shell and'held there inagainstrotation, and lead-forcing means extending. into saidshell torsuccessively engaging the leads in the magazine and ieeding'thcmtherethrough into position for use, said shell. and said means beingbodily relatively rotatable when said means are in retracted position.

8. A lead pencil con'iprising a shell, a lead-.magazine extending intosaid shell and heldtherein against rotationi andvlead-tor@ ingA meansextendinginto said-'shell tor suc cessively engaging the leads in themagaine. andteeding them therethrough into pe- Asition for use, saidleadtorcing means com- Sti ion

pi'ising a lead-engaging element and rotary thereof is continued aftermoving said ele-` ment to :retracted position, to effect relative bodilyrotation of said lead-forcing means and said shell.

9. A lead pencil comprising a shell, a lead-magazine extending into saidshell and held therein against rotation, and lead-'forcing meansextending into said shell for successively engaging the leads in themagi,- zine and feeding Vthem therethrough into position for use, saidshell and said means being bodily relatively rotatable when said meansare in retracted position, and mea-ns preventing relative rotation oisaid magaine and said `first-named means in one direction. y l y 10. Alead pencil comprising a shell, ra tip portion located at one end oitthe shell and containing a passage ior receiving a lead, a rod connectedwith said tip portion` a lead-magazine having journal support on saidrod and containing a series ot passagesI extending lengthwise thereofand grouped about its center and so positioned that they may bevsuccessively moved into alinenient with the passage in said tip portionupon relatively rotating these parts, said magazine extending into saidshell and being held against rotation relative to the latter, ascrew-threaded member rotatable in said shell, a block movable.lengthwise of the shell and having threaded engagement with saidthreaded rod, a rod extending lengthwise of the pencil and held inalinement with the passage in said tip portion, said last-named rodbeing operated by the movement of said block lengthwise ot the pencil,means preventing rotation ot said block relative to said tip-portion,and means cooperating with said block and operating when the latter ismoved to a position in which said last-- named rod is retracted fromsaid magazine, to effect bodily rotation of said last-named Vrod aboutthe aXis oi' the pencil, and relative to said shell and magazine, in therotation of said threaded rod in the direction for retracting thelead-engaging rod, whereby the latter is moved into line with thepassages iu said magazine, in succession.

ll. A leadpencil comprising' a shell, a tip portionlocated at one end ofthe shell and containing a passage ttor receiving a lead,fa rodconnected with said tip portion, a. leadmagazine having journal supporton said rod and containing a series of passages extending lengthwisethereoil and grouped about its center and so positioned that they may besuccessivelymoved into alinement with the passage in said tip portionupon relatively rotating these parts, said magazine extending into saidshell andV being held against rotation relative to the latter, ascrew-threaded member rotatable in said shell, a block movablelengthwise of the shell and having threaded engagement with saidthreaded rod, a rod extending lengthwise of the pencil and held inalinement with the passage in said tip portion, said last-named rodbeing operated by the movement of said block lengthwise of the pencil,means preventing rotation of said block relative to said tip portion,and means cooperating with said block and operating when the latter ismoved to a position in which said last-named rod isretracted from saidmagazine, to eiect bodily rotation of said last-named rod about the axisof the pencil and relative to said shell and magazine, in the rotationof said threaded rod in the direction for reti-acting the lead-engagingrod, whereby the latter is moved into line with the passages in saidmagazine, in succession, and means preventing relative rotation ot'said`magazine and said lead-engaging rod about the axis of the pencil, in

one direction. f 1 Y l2. A lead pencil comprising a shell open at itsopposite ends, a tip portion at one end of the shell and containing apassage for lead extending eccentrically of the axis oi the pencil, arod connected at one end with said tip portion and located in said shellwith its opposite end of enlarged diameter `forming a head, a magazinerotatably mounted on said rod between said tip portion and said head andcontaining a series ot' passages extending lengthwise thereof forreceiving leads and adapted to be moved in succession intov alinementwith the passage in said tip portion, said head containing a passagewayin its periphery for alinement with the passages in said magazine, insuccession, a bearing member at the other end of said shell, a rodconnecting said bearing member with said head, ai threaded rod journaledin said bearing member, a nut withv which said threaded rod has threadedengagement, said nut engaging said lastnamed rod `for 'preventingrotation of said nut, a lead-engaging rod operatively engaging said nutand adapted to move lengthwise in said magazine, said magazine beingheld against rotation within said shell, and

. a pawl carried by said head and adapted to cooperate with the notchesin said magazine.

13. A lead pencil comprising a tip portion containing a passagetherethrough for the-lead when positioned for use, and a second passageforming an inlet for leads, and a lead-magazine containing a series oflengthwise-extending passages adapted to be moved in succession intoregistration with said second passage insaid tip portion to permit ofthe charging of the magazine with leads, the passages in said magazineand the passages in said tip portion being so arranged that when apassage in the magazine registers with the irst-referred-to passage insaid tip portion, said second passage in said tip portion is not inregistration with any of the passages in said magazine.

14. A lead pencil comprising a tip portion containing a passage.therethrough for the lead when positioned :tor use, and a second passageforming an inlet i'or leads, and a lead-magazine containing a series otlength- Wise-extending passages adapted to be moved in succession intoregistration with said second passage in said tip portion to permit ofthe charging of the magazine With leads, the passages in said magazineand the passages in said tip portion being so arranged that vvhen apassage. in the magazine registers with the first-referred-to passage insaid tip portion, said second passage in said tip portion is not inregistration With any of the passages in said magazine, and lead-forcingmeans involving a member which operates in the one of said passages insaid magazine in alinement With said first-named passage in said tipportion.

15. A lead pencil comprising a tip portion containing a passagetherethrough for a'lead when positioned for use, and a second passageforming an inlet for leads, said passages being diametrically opposed,and a lead-magazine containing a series of passages of an odd numberadapted to be moved in succession into registration With said secondpassage in said tip portion to permit of the charging of the magazine.

16. A lead pencil comprising a tip portion containing a passagetherethrough for a lead When positioned for use, and a second passageforming an inlet for leads, said passages being diametrically opposed, alead-l magazine containing a series of passages oi' an od'd numberadapted to be moved in succession into registration with said secondpassage in said tip portion to permit of the charging of the magazine,and lead-forcing means involving a member which operates in the one ofsaid passages in said magazine in alinement With said first-namedpassage in said tip portion.

17. A lead pencil comprising a shell, a lead-magazine extending intosaid shell and held therein against rotation, and lead-forcing meansextending into said shell for snccessively engaging the leads in themagazine and feeding them therethrough into position for use, said shelland said means being bodily rotatable relative to each other or aliningthe leads in succession in the magazine With said lead-forcing means,said means extending into said magazine in one vposition o said meansand holding said magazine and means against relative rotation bodily andbeing retractable to permit said magazine and means to be 4relativelyrotatable bodily.

18. In a lead pencil, the combination ci' a tip containing a passage fora lead When .the magazine into said passage, all of said parts beingconnected together to form a unit, and a shell into which said unit isinsertable for assembling the parts of the pencil Without dissemblingthe parts comprising said unit.

20. In a lead pencil, the combination of a tip containing a passage fora lead When positioned for use, a lead-magazine containing a series ofopen-sided grooves for leads, said tip and magazine being relativelymovable and lead-forcing means for forcing a lead from the magazine intosaid passage,

all of said parts being connected together to form a unit, and a shellinto which said unit is insertable for assembling the parts of a pencil,Without disassembling the parts com prising said unit.

21. In a lead pencil, the combination of a member containing a passagefor a lead when positioned for use, a lead-magazine containingopen-sided grooves tor leads, said member and said magazine beingrelatively movable to successively position said grooves in line Withsaid passage, and a shell forming a cover for the leads in the grooves,said magazine and shell being relatively movable lengthwise of thepencil.

9.2. A magazine pencil, comprising a main body, means tor gripping alead or crayon in projected operative position, means for coupling saidgripping means to said main body in longitudinally spaced relation belowthe latter, a rotary magazine journaled on said coupling meansintermediate said main body and gripping means, said magazine having aplurality of chambers for holding leads or crayons adapted to beselectively disposed in operative relation to said gripping means byrotating said magazine, and a longitudinally movable feed rod connectedWith said main body and movable through an operatively disposed magazinechamber to engage and fee-d a lead or crayon out of the same intooperative relation to said gripping means.

llt)

23. A lead pencil comprising a lead magazine into Which the leads areaii-anged about the axis of tlie pencil, and lead feeding meanscomprising a eed-I'od eccentric to the axis cfl the pencil and slidableinto and out of said magazine, a rotatable eed-i'od-operating memberconcentric with the axis ot the pencil and' means operated by rotationof said meinber for actuating said feed rod, said magazine and said leadfeeding means being relatively rotatable to successively aline the leadsin said magazine with said feed rod.

CLARENCE o. crRoNBnRcf.`

